Mission and Conscience

Alexa's third day at the Salvatore's Villa.

The grand Salvatore Group office tower stood tall against the city skyline, a testament to Julian’s influence and unparalleled success. Inside his expansive office, the atmosphere was sharp and focused. His mahogany desk bore a sleek engraving: CEO. Julian worked with a precision that was almost surgical, his long, well-defined fingers clicking away on his computer.

Suddenly, his movement froze. His eyes widened, and a string of curses escaped his lips.

“Shit!”

Grabbing his keys, he bolted from his desk.

“Sir, is everything alright?” Theo, his dutiful assistant, asked, hurrying after him.

Julian didn’t respond, his face taut with urgency. Once in the car, he barked at the driver. “Home. Now.”

The urgency in his tone left no room for hesitation. Within minutes, the car screeched to a halt outside the Salvatore estate. Julian stepped out swiftly, his strides long and purposeful as he made his way into the villa.

Meanwhile, Alexa was in Julian’s room, dutifully wiping the immaculate white-plastered desk. Her hand paused as her eyes caught sight of a gleaming golden box sitting on the table.

Her heart raced. This was the moment she’d been waiting for. Just grab it and go. Nobody will notice until it’s too late.

But as her fingers brushed the box, images of Julian’s vulnerable demeanor the night before flashed through her mind. His attachment to the watch and the pain in his eyes lingered like a shadow over her resolve. She hesitated, torn between her mission and her conscience.

The earpiece hidden beneath her hair crackled to life.

“You should have gotten the watch by now,” Marcus’s cold, menacing voice echoed in her ear.

Alexa stiffened, biting her lip to suppress the growing dread.

“W-Working on it,” she muttered, her voice barely audible.

“Stop stalling, Lexi! Get the damn watch and get out!” His tone left no room for excuses.

Alexa’s trembling fingers reached for the watch, but the sound of approaching footsteps made her freeze. She quickly slipped the watch into the pocket of her baggy pants just as the door swung open.

Julian stood there, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, his hair tousled, and his face damp with sweat. The usual calm authority he exuded was replaced with frantic energy. Without a word, he marched past her, heading straight for the desk.

He tore through the papers and opened the drawers, his movements erratic. Finally, he slammed his fist against the desk, startling Alexa.

“Where is the golden box that was here?” he demanded, his voice thick with desperation.

“I… I didn’t see—”

“Don’t lie to me!” Julian roared, his piercing gaze locking onto her. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her closer. The intensity in his eyes made her heart pound.

“I swear, I haven’t seen any box!” Alexa stammered, struggling against his grip.

For a moment, Julian’s eyes searched hers, as if trying to read her soul. Then, with a frustrated sigh, he released her.

“Get out,” he ordered coldly.

Alexa fled the room, her cleaning tools clutched tightly in her hands. Back in her quarters, she sank onto the bed, her heart racing.

Her earpiece crackled again.

“You’ve got some nerve staying there, you little brat!” Marcus’s voice boomed.

“I-It’s not the right watch,” Alexa lied smoothly. “Just some ordinary gold watch. Nothing like the description.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not! I wouldn’t risk messing this up.”

There was a pause. Then, Marcus’s voice dropped into a low growl. “If you don’t get that watch by tomorrow, I’ll make you regret it. Understand?”

The line went dead, leaving Alexa trembling.

Back in Julian’s room, chaos reigned. He had torn through every drawer and cupboard, muttering to himself.

“No. It can’t be gone. I know I left it here.”

His hand hovered over the bedside table, a single button catching his eye. He pressed it, summoning Miss Yvonne, the head housekeeper.

Minutes later, she arrived, only to gasp at the disarray.

“What happened here, sir?”

“My golden watch is missing,” Julian stated, his voice clipped.

Miss Yvonne’s face paled. She knew the significance of that watch. “I’ll look into this immediately!”

She hurried out and headed straight for Alexa’s room.

“Alexa!” she called, her tone urgent.

Alexa sat up, feigning innocence.

“There’s a possession of the young master’s that’s as precious as his life,” Miss Yvonne explained. “It’s a golden watch, and he’s distraught that it’s missing. Did you see it while cleaning his room?”

Waves of guilt surged through Alexa, but she forced a calm smile. “I haven’t seen anything like that. But if you’d like, we can check the room together.”

Miss Yvonne agreed, and they returned to the study. Alexa’s heart raced as she tried to think of a way to return the watch unnoticed. Her eyes fell on a bookshelf near the closet—an untouched corner of the room.

As Miss Yvonne’s back turned, Alexa discreetly slid the watch onto the top shelf.

After several minutes of searching, Julian burst into the room, his expression dark. He moved straight to the bookshelf, his hands searching the top. A look of relief washed over his face as he retrieved the watch.

“You can all leave,” he said, his tone firm yet tinged with weariness. “It was here all along.”

Miss Yvonne and Alexa exchanged glances before leaving the room. Alexa’s steps were steady, but inside, her emotions churned like a storm.

“Close call,” she murmured to herself as she shut her door.